California uses the College/Career indicator within the California School Dashboard to measure whether the LEA students are prepared for success after graduation based on measures like graduation rate, performance on state tests, and college credit courses. Only graduates can be classified as Prepared or Approaching Prepared. For schools and LEAs to demonstrate success on this state indicator, high school graduates must meet at least one of the measures in the prepared level. 

Prepared

• Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments: Score of Level 3 "Standard Met" or higher on both English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics
• Advanced Placement (AP) Exams: Score of 3 or higher on two AP exams
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams: Score of 4 or high on two IB exams
• Completion of Dual Enrollment: Two Semesters or three-quarters of college coursework with a grade of C- or better in academic/CTE subjects where college credit is awarded
• University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) a-g requirements: Complete A-G requirements with a grade of C- or better plus one of the Additional Criteria*
• Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway: Pathway completion with a grade of C- or better in the capstone course plus one of the Addition Criteria*

*Additional Criteria

• Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment Scores:
  • Level 3 or higher on ELA and at least 2 "Standard Nearly Met" in mathematics, or
  • Level 3 or higher on mathematics and at least a Level 2 in ELA
• One semester/two-quarters of Dual Enrollment with a grade of C- or better in academic/CTE subjects
• A score of 3 on one AP exam or score of 4 on one IB Exam (for a-g requirement only)
• Completion of a CTE Pathway (for a-g requirement only)

So what does this mean for your student?